Petrol Pumps

As an Australian living in Canada for the past 4.5 years and married to a Canadian, I’ve encountered quite a few words that aren’t as universal as I thought. I’ve adjusted to “thongs” meaning flip-flops and “footpath” being a sidewalk, but I was surprised when I mentioned “fire brigade” and got some puzzled looks—here it’s called the “fire department.”

Last night, I shared a story with my wife about the time I accidentally drove off from the petrol bowser without paying, and she looked at me like I was speaking another language. I clarified that it’s called a pump in Canada, but it got me thinking: I haven’t heard an Aussie use the term “bowser” in ages. Is it just that I haven’t talked to another Aussie about filling up on gas… or should I say petrol… recently? Or has “bowser” become synonymous with that villain from Mario games?

One thought on “Petrol bowsers”

  1. It’s funny how language can change depending on where you are! “Bowser” is definitely more common in Australia, while “pump” is the standard term here in Canada and the US. It seems like every country has its own slang and preferences for certain words. It makes conversations interesting, for sure! Maybe it’s just that the term “bowser” is fading a bit, or it could be that it’s mostly used among certain groups back in Australia. Either way, it’s always fun to hear different terms and see how they can lead to amusing misunderstandings! And yes, Bowser does have a whole different identity in the world of Nintendo these days!

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